EDF posts record carbon efficiency

18 May 2012

The carbon intensity of generating capacity owned by the EDF group of companies fell below 100 g/kWh for the first time in 2011, while in France EDF's emission rate dived 25% to 30.4 g/kWh.

EDF Group is one of the largest electric utilities in the world, with generating, transmission and distribution assets owned or operated throughout the world although mainly in Europe. It is also the world's largest nuclear utility, operating 58 reactors in France, which meet about 80% of demand, as well as 15 reactors in the UK that meet about 18% of that country's needs.

EDF's carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation, 2009-2011

The company said that carbon dioxide intensity group-wide had fallen to 99.6 g/kWh – amongst the lowest for any utility in Europe. It also explained how intensity was being reduced through initiatives such as improving operating performance, renewable energy deployment and optimising the use of hydro. The company aims to halve carbon dioxide emissions from all production plants by 2020.

Commenting on the figures, the EDF sustainable development director Claude Nahon said, "These great results in our fight against carbon emissions have been made possible thanks to the long-term commitment of all of our departments across the group. They have been able to see it as an industrial advantage that makes us stand out from the competition."